Trolley-wire support



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. B. FISKE.

I. TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT.

Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

iillllllll 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. P. B. FISKE. TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN P. B. FISKE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THETHOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

TROLLEY-WIRE SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,336, dated February9, 1892.

Application filed July 80, 1891. Serial No. 401,159. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it nmyconcern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN P. B. FIsKE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTrolleyire Supports, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley-wire supports forelectric railways, and is particularly applicable to trolley-line workin mines and confined situations, where soldering becomes an impossibleor difficult operation, and where occasional taking up of the slack inthe line is required; but the support is also well adapted for use onordinary trolley -1ine outdoor construction as practiced with electricrailways at the present day. It has the advantage over the ordinarytrolley-wire support, in which the trolley-Wire is secured to thesupport by soldering, that it will not become loosened byvibrations orblows, causing the wire to become detached. Itpossesses decidedadvantages over those forms of supports which have dependent bosses orlugs passing below and engaging with the trolley-wire in that in thisconstruction the way of travel of the trolley-wheel is unobstructed,thus avoiding the destructive sparking which ensues at every supportwith consequent deterioration of both trolley-wire and thetrolley-wheel. It also possesses obvious advantages over those clampswhich consist of a thin sheet of metal drawn up under the wire by aclamp of some kind located midway between the two ends of thetrolleycar, as it is necessary to have the ends of the thin sheet metalfit tightly to the trolley-wire to prevent sparking, as occurs when theclamp is located elsewhere. It also is an improvement on those forms ofsupports in which the trolley-wire is caused to be bent laterally overholder-guides in order that the under surface may be plain and smooth,as in this construction no such bending becomes necessary, thetrolley-wire remaining in its stretched position of a straight line.

The invention has the further advantage that it is readily applied tothe trolley-line or is capable of being placed quickly in po sition, andthe wearing portion can be replaced in a moment.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side View of a trolley-wiresupport embracing my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on theliner a: in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 show details, and Figs. 5 to 1 showmodifications.

Fig. 1 shows the elements of the invention in itspreferredform.TheearorhangerCextends above and is grooved to receive the trolleywireT. A central enlarged portion chas the usual screw-hole to receive abolt coming from any suitable insulated support above. This support maybe of those commonly employed in such work and is not a part of thepresent invention. A sheet of metal B, preferably of phosphor-bronze orother metal possessing great tenacity with considerable flexibility, isout, as shown in Fig. 4, with lateral extensions or Wide portions 12 atthe end, so that when bent up along both sides into a U form it willpass over and closely engage the trolley-wire T in its position beneaththe piece C, while the extensions 1) project above the ear 0 and areprovided with clamping devices engaging with said ear. Such clampingdevices may consist of a block A, having lugs a engaging in holes Z) insaid extensions, and traversed by a screw S, engaging in cups or notchesC in the trolley hanger or ear C. The screw S is preferably providedwith a lock against retrograde movement, which may consist of a wirepassed through a groove in the screwhead and holes in the lugs a.

The means for clamping the strap, clip, or holderB to the hanger C maybevariously modified, as shown in Figs. 5 to 14. In Fig, 5 the extensionsof the plate 13 are. bent over the top of the block A and the screw S ispassed through holes in said extensions and screwed through the blockand against the hanger.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a form in which the spring-formed extensions b aresnapped over the top of the block and caught by notches a? therein, andthe screw is locked by a pin passing through holes in screw S andextensions b. Fig. 8 shows a similar construction, except that theextensions are held on the block by split pins to w. Instead of thenotches a? in the block A, (shown in Fig. 7,) continuous grooves may bemade, as indicated at a in Fig. 9. Instead of the screw S, otherwell-known equivalents may be used-t'or example, a cam or wedge. Asshown in Fig. 10,

4 the wedge may be driven between the block A and the hanger B and heldby a pin inserted through an opening in the extensions 1) and any one ofthe holes g in the wedge.

A connection is shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, and 14. In this instance theblock A is made cam-shaped and engages by lugs a with the extensions Z7and is provided with a handle H for its rotation, thus tightening theparts, and it is locked by a pin passing through the holes in theextensions and the cam. It also has holes or slots in its periphery forthe insertion of the lever by which it may be rotated.

It will be seen that in each of the above forms the clip is clamped atboth ends to the hanger by extensible or adjustable clamping devices, soas to give a tight fit at each end.

Vhat I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A trolleywire support comprising a hanger extending along the top ofthe wire and a sheet-metal clip extending below the wire and clamped tothe hanger at its ends.

2. A trolley-wire support having an ear or hanger extending along thetop of the wire, a sheet-metal clip extending below and embracing thetrolley-wire and having end portions projecting above the Wire andhanger, and clamping devices engaging with the hanger and end portionsof the clip.

3. A trolley-wire support having an ear or hanger extending along thetop of the trolleywire, a sheet-metal clip extending below and embracingthe trolley-wire and having end portions projecting above the wire andhanger, and extensible or adjustable clamping devices engaging with thehanger and with the end portions of the clip.

4. A trolley-wire support having an ear or hanger extending along thetop of the trolleywire, a sheet-metal clip extending below and embracingthe trolley-wire, blocks at the ends of the clip engaging therewith, andextensible or adjustable clamping devices engaging V with said blocksand hanger.

5. The combination, with the trolley-wire and hanger, of the sheet-metalclip extending below said wire and having end portions projecting abovesaid wire and hanger, blocks having lugs or portions engagingin holes inthe end portions of the clip, and screws or their equivalents engagingwith said blocks and with the hanger.

6. The combination, with the trolley-wire and hanger, of a sheet-metalclip extending below the said wire and having end portions extendingabove said wire and hanger, blocks engaging with the end portions of theclip, screws or their equivalents engaging with said blocks and with thehanger, and locking devices for said screws.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 27th day of July,1891.

JONATHAN P. B. FISKE.

Witnesses: 7

JOHN W. GIBBONEY, BENJAMIN B. HULL.

